By Anthony Giron
Imus, Cavite---A homeowners association (HOA) officer was shot dead Friday night by a still unidentified man while eating with a friend at a canteen in Barangay Navarro, General Trias, Cavite.
A report that the Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO) released on Saturday (Jan. 11) identified the fatality as Ruth Andrada de la Cruz, 52, secretary of the HOA.
De la Cruz reportedly received a death threat through a text message on her mobile phone prior to the shooting.
According to a report, the gunman fired his gun twice as De la Cruz was taking her dinner with a friend at the canteen at 7 p.m. Friday.
She sustained bullet wounds in the body and was declared dead on arrival at San Pedro Calunsod Hospital in Kawit. The gunman fled on foot to the adjacent Peninsula Subdivision after shooting her.
Lt. Col. Marlo Nillo Solero, General Trias police officer-in-charge, ordered an investigation of the incident.
The General Trias police withheld the motive of the shooting as well as the content of the death threat text message so as not to jeopardize the investigation.
A witness said the attack on De la Cruz happened after she had talked about the death threat she received.
It is the third fatal shooting to occur in Cavite within the week.
A couple died a few days ago after they were shot by an unidentified man inside their house at Green Estate Subdivision in Barangay Malagasang I-G in Imus.
The following day, a PPO report said a man was killed by a gunman during a chase in Bacoor City.
Col. Marlon Roque Santos, Cavite PPO officer-in-charge, ordered a sterner drive against criminality and loose firearms following the spike of shooting incidents in the area.